Felice Duffy, ESQ.

Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer

 New Haven, CT

EXPERIENCED TITLE IX & COLLEGE CONDUCT CODE LAWYER

Attorney Felice Duffy served as an Assistant United States Attorney for ten years after beginning her legal career at two prestigious firms (one in CT and one in NY) and then clerking for two federal judges. As an undergraduate, she brought a legal action under the then-new Title IX statute against UCONN to compel the creation of its women’s varsity soccer program. She went on to become a first-team Division I All-American, was selected to be on the first U.S. National Women’s Team, and spent 10 years as Head Coach of the Yale women's soccer team (while at the same time earning her Ph.D. in Education/Sports Psychology).

MY VALUES

I grew up with nine siblings in a household where our parents worked hard to treat all of us equally. No one was better than the others and no one was favored over the others. We were also taught to see the world that way – to not play favorites and to not judge others. So fairness and treating people with respect are central to my personal value system.

We were also taught to do our best at everything, whether it was school or hobbies or sports. “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” Put simply, I’m driven by excellence, and I’m driven by it at a deep level.

Finally, more than half of my siblings became accomplished team athletes. You can read more about my sports background here, but four highlights include: filing an action against UCONN under the then-new Title IX statute as an undergraduate to compel the creation of a woman’s soccer program, being selected as a Division I First Team All-American in soccer, being named to the first Women’s U.S. National Soccer team, and serving as Head Coach of the Yale Division I Women’s Soccer Team. I share this with you because that inner fire of competitiveness and teamwork continues to drive me as a lawyer.

I bring these qualities to every client and every case I take because it’s who I am and how I practice law.

My clients are up against institutions with significant resources behind them, whether the state or federal government with its prosecutorial and law enforcement agencies or colleges and universities. So my clients need a strong advocate to level the playing field and make sure their rights are wisely and vigorously defended.

MY LEGAL CAREER

My experience in a variety of legal settings gives me an invaluable perspective that I leverage on behalf of my clients every day.

Upon graduating law school, I worked briefly for a large Connecticut firm before accepting a position to serve for two years as a law clerk to federal district judge the Honorable Stefan R. Underhill, where I learned about criminal and civil cases from a judge’s perspective

I then worked for two years as a litigation associate at Sullivan and Cromwell in New York where I represented clients on white collar criminal defense, regulatory issues and complex litigation

I came back to Connecticut to build my career at another major firm only to be offered a position as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s office, which I accepted in 2005.

FORMER ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

Over my ten years as a federal prosecutor, I handled a wide variety of criminal investigations and cases, from white collar fraud to drug and gun cases. I worked closely with the major federal law enforcement agencies and appeared in federal court hundreds of times, including being lead counsel in numerous criminal trials.

RE-ENTRY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

In my last few years as a prosecutor (in addition to handling criminal cases), I worked with the community as the Re-Entry and Community Outreach Coordinator for the U.S Attorney’s office in Connecticut. In that role, I organized and/or participated in dozens of initiatives which brought together community leaders and activists on a range of topics including:

Gang and youth violence prevention strategies

Post-incarceration re-entry to society and the workforce

Race bias in law enforcement

Campus sexual assault prevention and training

DUFFY LAW

Duffy Law is the culmination of my professional path. It’s how I get to best help people who need a strong partner in navigating the judicial and educational institutions with which they’re contending.

If either you or someone you know needs experienced, tenacious legal counsel, call me at 203-946-2000 at no cost and we can explore if I am the right lawyer for you.

Honors:

Dean’s List

Senior Recognition Award

Student Leader Award

First Team All-America Soccer

Activities:

Division I Varsity Soccer

Participated in Title IX Action

BAR ADMISSIONS:

New York Bar 2003

Connecticut Bar 1999

AWARDS:

Alice Paul Award for Advocacy for the Advancement of Women (National Organization for Women)

Professional of the Year (Bridgeport Reentry Collaborative)

Giving Voice Award (U.S. Attorney’s Office)

Leadership Award (Stop Handgun Violence)

Outstanding Professional (NEAG School of Education, University of Connecticut)

The Impact Athletics Has on Women (Women’s and Girls’ Breakfast Fundraiser)

Title IX (UCONN Benton Museum’s “Hoop Dreams”)

State and federal gun and drug laws and how to stay out of trouble (Manson Youth Institute to inmates with 4 Peace Rap artists and Yale University Music Composer)

State and federal gun and drug laws and how to stay out of trouble (Hartford YMCA)

Title IX (College Students and the Law)

Sexual Assault on College Campuses (College and Universities as First Responders)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

Keynote Speaker about the experience in athletics and the impact athletics has on women at Eastern Connecticut State University at the Women’s and Girls’ Breakfast Fundraiser hosted by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s Windham Area Women and G

George Washington University Sociology Class on College Students and the Law

Panelist, Connecticut Bar Association, “Title IX: Gender Equity in College Athletics. How Far Have We Come in 30 Years?”